Corporate Governance
1. Objective
This Policy aims to define guidelines for business and personal relations to prevent acts of corruption and money laundering.
2. Guidelines
AVANTI has always been guided by ethics and honesty in its activities and contracts. In decision making, operational processes and contracting, AVANTI's values are present aiming at economy, assertiveness and the quality of the service provided. Through this Policy, actions are taken to prevent and repel any possibility of AVANTI's involvement in unlawful acts, especially those characterized as acts of corruption with government agents or individuals and money laundering.
2.1 Anticorruption Laws and Money Laundry
AVANTI operates under Brazilian law and has contractual relationships with medical research sponsors that may be of public or private origin, of national or foreign origin.
Regulations:
• Law 12.846, of 01st August 2013 which provides for the administrative and civil liability of legal entities for the practice of acts against public administration, national or foreign.
• International Regulations (Foreign Corrupt Practice Act - FCPA e UK Bribery Act - UKBA) that demand declarations and information regarding AVANTI's internal controls when administrative intervening in a contractual relationship.
2.2 Relationships
In professional or even personal relationships such as kinship and close friendship, in which one or more people are linked to AVANTI, it is necessary to keep AVANTI's interests above personal interests. It is forbidden, under any circumstances, to accept or offer benefits that may be understood as an attempt to induce or influence decision-making within AVANTI that is not based on objective criteria and on the integrity of professional relationships, more specifically on quality, trust and transparency. Decision-making will be based on technical, professional and ethical criteria in line with AVANTI's general guidelines.
Decision-making in the provision of services is conducted through an objective and previously established process, such as quality measures or price quotations, in order to guarantee the best cost-benefit ratio for AVANTI. Any choice or decision making based on personal advantage for members of the Executive Board or Area Managers or anyone who has an influence on AVANTI's operational and strategic processes is unacceptable.
Relationships must strive for transparency, observing the competitive administrative, legal and financial purposes appropriate to this purpose, as well as compliance with laws and contracts.
AVANTI records through the Declaration of Politically Exposed Person and Conflicts of Interest form (Appendix I) which each member of the AVANTI Board and Management group of the area must declare which personal relationships may cause a conflict of interest. The form is renewed for each change of Management, position or function, and it is the responsibility of the above to update the form extraordinarily when the condition changes.
2.3 Conflict of Interests and Conflicting Activities
A conflict of interest arises when a person or an organization can receive an advantage in a decision, thus affecting the criteria of objectivity, independence and commitments to the principles of honesty, ethics and integrity and the values of the business.
AVANTI ensures transparency, professionalism and integrity in any decision-making process as well as the absence of any personal or professional conflicts of interest.
AVANTI respects privacy and personal choices, but nothing, at work or in personal life, should be done if it conflicts with its responsibilities in relation to the Institution or interferes with the quality or performance of work, professional commitment or in the decision-making capacity, including the sale and exchange of goods of particular interest, from family and friends on AVANTI's premises.
The exercise of professional activities on behalf of AVANTI must preserve good relations with the various segments of society as well as with public agents. Any participation in festivities and events must take place with respect to the principles and guidelines of AVANTI's Internal Policies and Procedures. When in doubt, the immediate manager or Board should be consulted.
The Board and the Management group must refuse to participate in any decision-making in which they may have interests that influence or may be seen as influencing their ability to make an objective decision and to fulfill their responsibilities to AVANTI.
The Management group or any collaborating member must inform the Board, in writing, of any activities, financial interests or external relationships that may involve them, directly or indirectly, in a conflict of interest, using the AVANTI's conflict of interest registration form for this purpose.
Any potential conflict of interest will be properly analyzed, which includes considering whether it is appropriate to resume discussions or activities involving the conflict. When in doubt, the leaders should be consulted in search of a joint solution or, if possible, to reduce potential losses resulting from it.
2.4 Samples, Gifts and Entertainment
It is inappropriate to give or receive gifts if these actions are not strictly in accordance with the principles and guidelines of AVANTI's Internal Policies and Procedures.
You should not give or receive gifts or entertainment benefits that are not in accordance with the policy adopted by AVANTI or that may raise questions about personal and professional integrity and the integrity and independence of AVANTI.
Samples, gifts, entertainment benefits and work meals may be offered and accepted when considered simple courtesies consistent with usual practices of respect and cordiality and that exclude any influence on AVANTI decision making. This possibility also applies to gifts, meals or entertainment proposed during events or conferences.
Although exchanged for reasons of personal friendship or professional relationship, gifts or entertainment benefits can be perceived as an undue advantage. Leaders must always act with transparency and knowledge so that such situations are avoided.
AVANTI acts in such a way that any third party does not feel obliged to make a donation or to give personal favors in exchange for an advantage with AVANTI. Management and its Employees must take extreme care when receiving proposals for donations that are not in line with the purpose and objective of AVANTI's performance. When in doubt, leaders should be consulted. Ignorance of rules does not justify any non-conformity, even if in good faith.
In the relationship with public agents, especially with regard to receiving or offering gifts and donations, anti-corruption guidelines and legislation must also be observed.
2.5 Polícy Conduct
AVANTI's Conduct Policy defines the ethical behavior guidelines that guide all people who are linked to AVANTI's activities and services. This policy defines the inappropriate conduct that can generate conflicts of interest, materialization of operational risks and illegal conduct, which can generate deceit for the community and AVANTI itself.
Training and dissemination of guidelines are periodically held, maintaining the culture and appropriating information of appropriate behavior to those who are subject to the AVANTI Conduct Policy.
2.6 Reporting Channel
AVANTI makes available to the general public, a Communication Channel for complaints (info@avantipc.com.br) and reports of misconduct. The Channel is also available for the public to raise doubts and request support in matters related to conduct, behavior and illegal acts. The rapporteurs have the option of anonymity in the register and AVANTI ensures assessment, treatment and, if applicable, investigation of all reports registered in the Communication Channel.
2.7 Calculation and Internal Control
Denunciation cases are handled and investigated internally, looking for evidence and evidence to corroborate the situation that does not comply with the Law or the AVANTI Code of Ethics and Conduct.
In cases configured as corruption and money laundering, AVANTI will report to the competent authorities so that due diligence is carried out, placing documentation, cooperation and support for public agents to ascertain the extent and responsibility.
AVANTI maintains accounting and financial records in accordance with Brazilian law, maintaining and improving good internal control practices to mitigate the risks of error and fraud.
2.8 Anti-retaliation of Complaints and Consequences
AVANTI's Anti-Retaliation and Consequences Standard is intended to ensure protection from identification or retaliation for reporting situations that do not comply with AVANTI's Conduct Policy and also to define that there are consequences for the verified and proven cases of breach of conduct. Anti-retaliation and consequence measures are defined by pre-defined criteria and deliberated by the Compliance Committee.
2.9 Compliance Committee
The AVANTI Compliance Committee is responsible for spreading the culture of Compliance at AVANTI, ascertaining responsibilities for misconduct or breach of the AVANTI Conduct Policy through supporting documentation and reports, defining a consequence, that is, a corrective disciplinary measure to maintain the integrity of AVANTI and the persons linked to it.
3. Validity
This Policy is valid for 24 months and must be revalidated at the end of this period.